Lantern case



C. E. GRAY LANTERN CASE Aug. 22, 1967 Filed Aug. 3l, 1964 l l n I; A

zfy 4 INVENTOR C24/@L05 GRAY. BY

TTRNEX United States Patent h.

3,337,217 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,337,027 LANTERN CASE Carlos E. Gray, 1626 N. 26th Place, Phoenix, Ariz. 85908 Filed Aug. 31, 1964, Ser.1 No. 393,035 4 Claims. (tClle 20o-ll) The present invention relates to a casing or receptacle to hold and protect a lantern during transportation and also to serve to support a lantern when in use.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved carrying case which is designed to receive and securely hold a campers lantern such as a Coleman lantern or the like used by hunters and campers in and around their camp sites. The lantern is centrally positioned within said carrying case by suitable resilient cushioning rneans which provides protection for the fragile parts of the lantern when being transported or when being used as a light source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple two-part carrying case for a campers lantern in which the lantern may be resiliently supported and fully enclosed to protect it from damage during transportation, and which may be quickly converted for use as a portable lantern holder by simply removing one of the parts thereby exposing the lantern controls and light source for normal illumination use, Without removal of the lantern from its secured position in the base portion of the carrying case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lantern carrying case which comprises a cover portion and a lantern holding portion which may be associated by suitable means to form a protective enclosure for a lantern during transportation of the same, which means also allows for disassociation of the cover portion and the holding portion when desired to provide a portable lantern holder which is adapted to securely hold and protect the lantern during normal usage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lantern case of the invention illustrating the preferred form of a complete assembled case.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lantern case shown in FIG. 1, showing the cover portion removed from the lantern holding base portion of the case.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan View of the lantern case of FIG. l, showing an enclosed lantern in phantom line.

FIG. 4 is lan enlarged vertical sectional view of 'the assembled lantern case taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing the enclosed lantern in phantom line.

Referring now to the various views of the drawing for more specic details of construction; reference numeral represents in general a complete assembled lantern carrying case which comprises a cover portion 11 and a base or lantern holding portion 12, which may preferably be constructed from a single sheet of suitable material such as plastic, fibreglass or metal, which has previously been formed into a cylindrical shaped receptacle of the desired diameter, to which may be attached as by means of fusion or otherwise, a pair of Hat circular discs of the same or similar material, one to each end of the cylindrical receptacle, thereby forming a closed cylindrcal drum. The said drum has a head 13 and a base 1li from which the basic parts of the lantern case 14B may be readily formed into the respective cover portion 11 and the base holding portion 12 by simply cutting through the wall of the cylindrical drum previously formed on the horizontal plane parting line 15, the parallel vertical plane parting lines 16 Iand 17, the horizontal plane parting line 13, and by joining said parting lines by rounded corner cuts such as at 19, thereby severing the cylindrical drum and forming the desired cover portion 11 and the base portion 12.

The forming of a cover portion 11 and a base portion 12 as above described provides the desired abutting edges 20, 21 and 22 on the cover 11, and the respective adjacent abutting edges 23, 24 and 25 on the base 12, which are adapted to meet in exact vertical and horizontal alignment when the cover portion 11 is placed on the base portion 12 to form the lantern case lit.

To this end the base of vertical guide strips 26 which may be riveted or otherwise secured to the surface of vertical wall 2'7 of the base 12 and which project outwardly from the abutment edges 24 to cover portion 11 and to align the abutment edges 21 of the cover portion therewith when in abutting relation thereto. A semi-circular guide strip 28 is secured to the inner circumferential surface of the Wall 27 where it projects above the abutment edge 25, and together with a pair of guide strips 29 serves to guide and align the respective abutting edges 22 and 2S of the cover portion 11 and base portion 12 as previously described.

A circular band 311, preferably made of metal or other rigid material, is secured in a horizontal plane to the upper inner face of the semi-circular top portion of the circumferential wall 27 of the base 12 and projects upwardly therefrom, where it is adapted to function as an aligning guide for the abutting edges 20 and 23 of the respective cover and base portions 11 and 12, and also for the inner circumferential surface 31 of the cover wall 32. The yband Sil is provided with a plurality of inwardly projecting clips 33 which are securely attached to its inner face at equal distances apart about its circumference, and each clip is provided with a hole 34 for retaining a hooked end 34 of suitable tension springs 35, the purpose of which will be further explained.

In addition to the guiding and retaining means above described, the cover portion 11 and the base portion 12 are each provided with a section of suitable two-piece spring latches 36 and 37 which are adapted to secure the cover portion and the base portion lirmly together when it is desired to use the lantern case 10 for storage or transportation purposes. For these purposes a suitable carrying handle 38 is attached to the head 13 of the cover 11. The base portion 12 is also provided with a suitable carrying handle 39 which is securely attached in parallel relation to the rear of the vertical wall 27 for the purpose of lifting and carrying the base portion 12 when the cover portion 11 has been removed to expose and utilize the portable light source of a continued lantern l0 which is shown in phantom line in FIG. 4.

The base or lantern holding portion 12 is also provided wit-h a resilient shock absorbing cushion or pad 41 which rests on the inner surface of the base 14' .and projects upwardly around the inner circumferential surface of the vertical wall 27 and is of suitable thickness to provide a socket or cavity 4t2 which is sized to snugly receive the circular base portion 43 of the lantern all which is adapted to rest on the top surface of the resilient pad 41. It should be understood that pad 41 could be made of separate pieces or formed to the proper size as required to receive various diameter lantern bases.

Having above described the preferred construction features of applicants lantern carrying case 1h, applicant will now proceed to describe the operational features and versatile uses of the same: Assembled lantern case 10, as shown in FIG. l, may be made ready to receive a campers lantern lil by merely unfastening spring latches 36 and 37 and removing the cover portion 11 from the base holding portion 12 is provided with a pair D iortion 12 to allow the lowering ot a conventional :ampers lantern 40 through the circular band 30 and guiding its circular base portion 43 into the cavity 42 Vith the bottom surface its base firmly resting on the top iurface 44 of the resilient pad 41. Lantern controls 45 and he pivoted lantern handle 46 should preferably be posi- .ioned relative to the lantern case base portion 12 as :learly indicated in FiG. 4 to allow for use and adjustnent of the lantern Without removal of the same from said base.

Lantern 40 is now positioned centrally in the base portion of the case and held securely from any radial lateral movement by means of the circumferential wall of the resilient pad 41. To prevent any possibility of vertical bouncing or dislodgment of the lantern base 43 from the cavity 42 suitable resilient hold-down means is provided in the form of a iiat triangular plate 47 which has a central bore l48 adapted to receive a projecting bolt 49, which is common to most campers lanterns and which is usually provided with a thumb nut 50 and which is now used to securely fasten plate 47 in horizontal relation to the vertical axis of the lantern.

The corners of triangular plate 47 are radially aligned with the previously described clips 33 on the circular band 30 and each corner is provided with a hole 51 which is adapted to receive the upper hooked ends 35 of the tension springs 35, which having their lower hooked ends 34' secured in the holes 34 in the clips 33 to prevent any tendency to relative vertical movement of the lantern 40 in the base holding portion 12 of the carrying case 10.

The cover portion 11 may noW be replaced on the base portion 12 and securely locked in position by means of the spring latches 36 and 37, and lantern case 10, With the lantern 40 resiliently secured inside is ready for storage, carrying, or transportation.

When it is desired to use the lantern 40 for normal illumination purposes, it is only necessary to unlatch and remove the cover portion 11 of the case from the base holding portion 12, thereby exposing the lantern controls 45 and the light source is available for use without removing the lantern from its resiliently secured position in the base 12 as above described. To this end the handle 39 has been provided to assist in movement of the lantern holding base portion 12 from place to place and a reflective coating or material 51 may be secured to the inner circumferential surface of the vertical wall 27 to amplify the light normally dispersed by the lantern.

From the foregoing description it is evident that applicant has devised a sturdy, inexpensive lantern carrying case which may be used for storage or transportation of a lantern, which is provided with means to utilize the illuminating properties of the lantern without removal of the same from the holding portion of the case, and having means to protect the lantern from damage during use.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it is to be understood that modiiicaton may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A casing for a lantern, a lantern in said casing, said casing having a base portion receiving and enclosing the lower portion of said lantern, a plate member, means attaching said plate member to the upper portion of said lantern, a plurality of tension members, means attaching one end of each of said tension members to said plate 4 member, means attaching the opposite ends of said tension members to said base portion retaining the lower portion of said lantern in spaced relation to the base portion of said casing.

2. A casing for a lantern, a lantern in said casing, said casing having a base portion receiving and enclosing the lower portion of said lantern, a plate member, means attaching said plate member to the upper portion of said lantern, a plurality of tension members, means attaching one end of each of said tension members to said plate member, means attaching the opposite ends of said tension members to said base portion retaining the lower portion of said lantern in spaced relation to the base portion of said casing, and a resilient pad intermediate the lower portion of said lantern and the base portion of said casing.

3. A casing for use in transporting a lantern and convertible to support a lantern for normal illumination use, a lantern in said casing, said casing comprising a cylindrical base portion enclosing the base portion of said lantern, a semi-cylindrical portion extending from said cylindrical base portion, a cylindrical cover portion, a semicylindrical portion extending from said cover portion, said base and cover portions fitting in edge-to-edge contact enclosing said lantern, a plate member, means attaching said plate member to the upper portion of said lantern, a plurality of tension members, means attaching one end of each of said tension members to said plate member, means attaching the opposite ends of said tension members to said rst mentioned cylindrical portion of said casing enclosing the base portion of said lantern, means securing said cylindrical base portion and said cylindrical cover portions in fixed relation for transportation and means for releasing said cover portion for removal for use of the lantern for illumination.

4. A casing for use in transporting a lantern and convertible to support a lantern for normal illumination use, a lantern in said casing, said lantern having a thumb nut, said casing comprising a cylindrical base portion for enclosing the base portion of said lantern, a semi-cylindrical portion extending from said cylindrical base portion, a cylindrical cover portion, a semi-cylindrical portion extending from said cover portion, said base and cover portions fitting in edge-to-edge contact to enclose said lantern, a plate member, attached to the upper portion of said lantern by said thumb nut, a plurality of tension members, means for attaching one end of each of said ten- 'sion members to said plate member, means for attaching the opposite ends of said tension members to said first mentioned cylindrical portion of said casing enclosing the base portion of said lantern, means for securing said cylindrical base portion and said cylindrical cover portions in xed relation for transportion and means for releasing said cover portion for removal for use of the lantern for illumination.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,779 ll/ 1943 Mazzei.

2,486,711 11/1949 Harris.

2,525,673 10/1950 Heinrich 206-46 2,779,464 1/1957 Cairnes et al. 20G- 46 2,977,043 3/1961 Scheldorf 206-46 3,180,607 4/1965 Lee 206-46 3,198,321 8/1965 Politano ,g 206--1 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CASING FOR A LANTERN, A LANTERN IN SAID CASING, SAID CASING HAVING A BASE PORTION RECEIVING AND ENCLOSING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LANTERN, A PLATE MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHING SAID PLATE MEMBER TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID LANTERN, A PLURALITY OF TENSION MEMBERS, MEANS ATTACHING ONE END OF EACH OF SAID TENSION MEMBERS TO SAID PLATE MEMBER, MEANS ATTACHING THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID TENSION MEMBERS TO SAID BASE PORTION RETAINING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID LANTERN IN SPACED RELATION TO THE BASE PORTION OF SAID CASING. 